Why We Really Love Fall

We often ask each other,

"What's your favorite thing about fall?"

I really don't think it's possible to

narrow this down to one thing.

The cool weather, the colors of the leaves, 

sweaters, soups, apples--and the pumpkins!

The gourds and the pumpkins!

Hot chocolate, cider and lattes.

Quilts and snuggling beneath them

 and oh, yes! 
 Roaring and crackling in the fireplace:
a beautiful fire.

And so, in trying to sum up this answer, I thought,

"Aren't we just naturally 'nesters' "?

During the summer we journey out--

to ballgames, the pool, a lake, vacation, the zoo,

even just out working in our yard and in our gardens.

But fall finds us beginning to settle back in,

doing everything we need

to make sure the winter finds us prepared.

We make our quilts, preserve our food,

clean up our gardens & stack the wood.

We bring back order from the chaos

that summer brought to our lives.

Very soon we will be "cozied" back in our homes.

Once again, we'll be among the things
that bring us warmth, peace and contentment,

especially when we know just how much

work and love has gone into

the preparation of these "nests". 

Jane Austen put it very simply:

"There is no place like home

for true comfort."

This is the time we come back.

This is when we come home. 

Who wouldn't love everything about fall?

Photo Credits: 

Fireplace:  http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/The_fireplace-RS.jpg 

Preserved food:  http://whiteharvestseed.com/blog/book-reviews/the-big-book-of-preserving-the-harvest/

Blessings & Welcome Pillows

I've been meaning to make these for

a year now.  Today, I'm happy to say that

I completed them--and moved more

"stuff" out of my sewing room! 

(you know I'm just making room for new fabric, don't you?) 

Check yet another project off the list! 

Yay, me!  On. A. Roll!

I first cut out stencils on the cricut

using just regular scrapbook paper.

(If you want "cleaner" lines, I would use vinyl for the

 stencil.  I was going for more of a stamped or rustic

look so I wasn't worried so much about the paint

seeping out under the paper.)

Then tape the stencils down on the fabric.

(I didn't like the extra space between the "n" and "g"

so I cut some of it out)

Using acrylic craft paint, carefully paint

over the stencils.  

(The inner loop comes out of the l's and the e's

when removing it from the paper--

I just guessed and made my own "holes".)  

Then start playing with the ribbons

to achieve the look you want.

I really liked the orange dotted one but I wanted

to be able to bring this one out year-round. 

Sew the ribbons in place

and the pillows together.

If you're an up-cycler and/or thrifty, here

you can cut up an old bed pillow.  Use the

outer lining of it to make a form the size

you need and then fill it with the stuffing from

the bed pillow.  Free pillow form.  Love it. 

Esp when they are just headed

to the front porch!

(and your keeping them out of the landfill!)

Here they are on our loveseat.

Tomorrow, I'm cleaning our very dusty porch, 

swing and windows so that I

can actually put them out there.

Autumn blessings to you and your home.

More Autumn Around The House

Still waiting on more of the pumpkins
and gourds to ripen completely

(maybe this weekend?)

but I thought I'd throw a few more

fall decor pics out there. 

Don't you just love the warm colors of fall?

 

I get inspired to make things like this:

and this:

and then some of this:

This one has been around for a few years,

gracing our front door every fall.  Our house faces

southeast so I'm afraid the morning sun

has faded it but I still love it. 

What are you creating today?

Need more pumpkin inspiration?

A Couple of Quilt Bloopers -- A Little Honesty

Good morning!

Yesterday I layered the stacked-coins quilt

(I really need to get a name for it!). 

I pieced together this backing out of some

black/white fabric that I've had FOREVER--YAY!

It matched the theme perfectly

and I was extremely happy to move it out! 

I didn't have quite enough so I pieced in some black

(I really don't like solids anyway, so move it out!). 

Don't you LOVE this patching idea that

seems to be really popular? 

Makes my job of "using what I have"

sooo much thriftier easier! 

Now, here's how I put a quilt together. 

I know there are other ways

but this seems to work well for me. 

First I slide over our dining room table

and then go to work

taping the bottom layer down first. 

With the piecing of the backing, I came up

with this little method of making sure

the front was in line with the back.

I use masking tape to mark a "line-up" point

 on the top and bottom of the back.

...making sure it's long enough to stick out

from under the batting.

I'll then line these up to one of the strips

of "coins" on the top of the quilt.

And now....we'll interrupt this wonderful time

set aside for basting a quilt together

 for a wee little, ahem, blooper. 

WHAT WAS I THINKING??? 

Here's the batting that I bought....and

on top of it?  That's my quilt. 

Hanging over about an inch.  OY! 

I can honestly say that I've never

done this one before.  Sigh.

(Do Fons & Porter ever do these things???)

SO, stop everything and run to the store....

Ah, much better.

Until...yep.  ANOTHER ONE.  TWO in one day. 

I am so ashamed.  Can I blame 

these on the fact that I just

turned an age...well, I don't think I want

to give my age anymore, tho it rhymes with

...uh....um....sorty?  (*sagging shoulders*)

So, yes, I was basting along *baste, baste*

and there it was.  Upside down.  

Those darned white-on-white fabrics! 

Nope, haven't done this one before either. 

(Eleanor Burns???) 

 I tried hard to be optimistic here. 

Well, it WAS right on the outside

and therefore somewhat easy to fix.

In fact, it only took me about 20 mins.  

 It really could've been worse.  Which

has me thinking:  all of those link parties

out there...I need to figure those out

and then maybe I should have a 

craft and/or quilting bloopers linky!

"For what do we live, but to make sport for our neighbors

and laugh at them in our turn?"

--Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice 

But maybe it's not a good idea to focus on our errors?

Well, I have a date with my

sewing machine and I'm already late. 

Happy quilting!

Road Trip: A Fall Arts & Crafs Fair

It was wonderfully cold and stormy

this morning when we headed up to 

the Hillsboro Arts and Crafts Fair. 

Fortunately, the rain stopped an hour

 before the show "officially" opened.

 

Look at all of the early-birds getting their worms!

I think the shoppers show up earlier every year. 

(Note that I was there to note this...!)

I love to watch for the true artisan who

has a real passion for the craft. 

For me, they just really stand out.

I obtained permission from this amazing knitter

for a picture but I promised to show

just a glimpse--no giving any real ideas away. 

This is Knitting Novelties out of Nebraska.

Someday I'd love to be able to make such beautiful

accessories, espcially the purses and hats. 

 Creative, unique &, tho I'm no expert,
 the quality of the wool struck me as "worth it"!

I'm lucky in that my DH loves for me to wear hats

so I have a bit of a carte blanche there.   

There were fun hats with big beautiful flowers

clipped on them and all with great colors,

style and decor.  Ever the practical one (sigh), 

I ended up choosing a hat that I thought

would be the best match for my wardrobe.  

I just wish this picture did better justice to it. 

Think I'll have to go find a flower, tho!  

(I spoke with the artist for a bit and learned that

 "Brown Sheep Wool" is her yarn of choice for felting because its

shrinkage is very consistant.  Good to know, and I'm filing

 that away for when I'm ready to try that technique!)

Will definately look for her again next year.

Just a side note:  I think it's a blast to discuss

their crafts with them.  A true artist loves

 to share his/her wisdom, and will certainly

enjoy compliments and encouragement as well. 

I didn't get pictures of my other favorites

but here are just a couple of the items

 that came home with me.

Doesn't this table runner look, well, home-y?

I really do try to bring more contemporary colors

and styles into my home but those

traditional ones still keep grabbing me. 

  

Right now it's on top of my dresser where

I think it will work well to protect the wood from

candles and my Scentsy.

I'm such a sucker for bath products!  

I've dipped into this craft a little but I'm pretty jealous

of the serious artisan here.  There is such

a wide range of natural ingredients

to choose from--most are easily obtained,

probably from own my gardens.

Add that to the bucket list...

This crafter had so many to choose from

that I can't believe I kept it to 4.  Hmmm.

Teachers' gifts?  Stocking stuffers? 

Uh...me???  LOL

We felt made some great aquisitions and each

walked away with a bag that runneth o'er. 

  Usually this is the only show that I will take

time out for but it was so fun to support these 

artists that I may try to fit in another. 

Yup, we did our part in "buying local" today.  :o)

Crazy Halloween Quilt

I completed this quilt top today-- 

I just started piecing it several days ago. 

Remember my "make it with what I have" rule?

What do you think?  Was I okay to stick with it

or is this just too crazy? 

Shouldn't Halloween be a little crazy?

Have a fall project to share?
Cauldron Crafts Fall Project Link Party

If You Got the Notion...

I keep just my favorite notions & supplies on

an old baker's rack in my sewing room. 

This antique (I'm assuming) silk thread suprised me

one day by showing up in the mail.

Any ideas of what to do with it? 

I will say, it makes me completely happy

 just how it is,

sitting in this jar on my shelves. 

But, should they remain just part of a collection?

And, if they are as antique as they look,

how is the quality and strength at this point?
 

Here is another collection: 

A whole set of DPN's, 0 - 7, all in the original packages.

(there are more back behind that are hard to see)

39 cents??

 When I was about 14, I was given a huge box
of yarn, needles and other supplies.  WOW. 

  I weeded out the yarn but, after I married,
 I dragged every one of those needles
with me to several different states and

4 different houses till I FINALLY
learned how to knit!  

How happy I was to find that I had almost

every needle I'd ever need! 

Most are pictured here but there are others
with my projects/knitting tote. 

Anyone else find their notions to be

more interesting than just "supplies"?